Maybe you don’t clean out the lint trap on your dryer before and after every use, or perhaps you occasionally throw a shirt with an oil stain on it in the washing machine. But kicking these habits along with some others is important if you want to keep your home safe.
Don’t Throw Away the Owner’s Manual
When you buy a product like an appliance or a tool, it should come with an owner’s manual filled with guidelines to help you learn how to use the item and keep your home safe. This means that you shouldn’t just toss the manual. Read it first and then follow the directions each and every time you use the product.
Keep Your Home Safe by Not Washing Flammable Chemicals
If your job involves a lot of elbow grease, cleaning your clothing can be an ordeal. It’s also not safe for your home unless you do it properly. If the clothing’s fabric has been exposed to cooking oil or volatile chemicals, when it’s exposed to heat, you’re risking starting a fire.
- Wash the load two times so that there’s more time to get the chemicals out.
- Don’t use the dryer. Instead, hang the clothes up to dry.
- If you must use a dryer, make sure that it’s on the lowest heat setting and add a cool-down cycle.
- Don’t allow damp clothes to sit in a warm dryer.
Get Rid of the Lint
Lint is extremely flammable, so be sure to keep your lint traps as clean as can be to keep your home safe.
- Clean up every speck of lint that you can find, including lint that’s hiding behind your appliances.
- Empty the lint trap after using it. Double check by cleaning the lint trap again before you start a load.
- Do not run the dryer if the trap is clogged or missing.
- If you’ve used a fabric softener, wash the lint trap using warm water and soap. Let it dry completely before you put it back in the machine.
- Make sure that the exhaust vent is clean and clear.
- Every 18 months, hire a professional to clean your ducts and the dryer.
Don’t Mix Cleansers
Never mix bleach with a different cleaning product, and be sure that you don’t use a product that contains bleach and one that contains ammonia at the same time. This mixture causes a toxic gas to form that can not only make you ill—it can be deadly. There is a long list of cleansers that should not be mixed with bleach. Also, keep your home safe by not using products that contain bleach when cleaning up pet stains.
Don’t Forget About Your Stove
In this age of multi-tasking, it’s tempting to take on other chores while you’re in the middle of cooking. Yet cooking is the #1 cause of house fires and injuries.
- Stay in the kitchen when you’re cooking. Don’t leave the house for any reason.
- Make use of a timer to help you keep an eye on things.
- Don’t cook when you’re sleepy or overly fatigued.
Don’t Wrap Your Cords
While it may be tempting, never wrap your electrical cords tightly around anything. This will trap heat that can cause the insulation to melt. It can also cause the wires to break, which can make an appliance short out or even initiate a fire. Be especially careful when you’re dealing with irons, space heaters, or any other appliance that heats up.
While you’re working to break these hazardous habits, teach your children to keep your home safe as well with these tips.
Elite Home Inspections is Louisville’s preferred home inspections provider so that you can have confidence that you are purchasing a safe home for your family. Give us a call at (502) 648-9294 or schedule your inspection online.